Christmas With the Smithereens

by The Smithereens

Overview

After an eight-year lay-off from the recording studio, the Smithereens released two albums in 2007. However, it doesn't bode well for their creative process that the first of those albums was comprised entirely of Beatles covers, and the second was a Christmas disc. However, Christmas with the Smithereens at least features three original tunes (which is three more than Meet the Smithereens!), and as rock & roll Christmas albums go, this is good fun and admirably eclectic. The Smithereens are pretty broad-minded when it comes to what constitutes a Yuletide melody, given the presence of "Christmas," a not especially seasonal tune from the Who's Tommy, and they dig up the Beatles rarity "Christmas Time Is Here Again," as well as cutting a version of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" that's a dead ringer for the Fab Four. Seasonal numbers from the Beach Boys, Chuck Berry, and the Ramones also make the set list, and you get a snappy spoken word rendition of "The Night Before Christmas" as well as some rollicking proto-surf boogie on "Auld Lang Syne." The big surprise here is that Pat DiNizio shares the vocal mic with his bandmates for a change, and if guitarist Jim Babjak and drummer Dennis Diken aren't quite up to DiNizio's standard as a singer, they fit their selections better than DiNizio's often-gloomy tone. Fans waiting for a "real" Smithereens album will apparently have to wait a bit longer, but Christmas with the Smithereens is more thoughtful and intriguing than the average tossed-together holiday offering, and the best moments are a clear reminder of what makes this band worthwhile. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	09/01/2023
Label:	Sunset Blvd Records
UPC:	0708535702924
Rank:	69590

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Smithereens   Primary Artist
Dave Amels   Piano (Electric),Organ,Piano,Chimes,Wurlitzer,Marxophone,Guest Artist
Chris Bolger   Guitar (Bass),Bass,Guest Artist,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Baritone)
Servero "The Thrilla" Jornacion   Bass (Electric)
Jim Babjak   Bass (Electric),Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Bass)
Severo Jornacion "The Thrilla"   Guitar (Bass)
Pat DiNizio   Guitar,Vocals,Harmonica
Dennis Diken   Drums,Vocals,Percussion
David Marks   Guitar,Guest Artist
Kurt Reil   Guitar,Vocals,Percussion,Guest Artist

Technical Credits

Dennis Diken   Audio Production,A&R,Arranger,Composer,Producer,Liner Notes,Group Member
Jim Babjak   Audio Production,Arranger,Composer,Producer,Group Member
Kurt Reil   Audio Production,Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Pat DiNizio   Audio Production,Arranger,Composer,Producer,Group Member
Frankie Galasso   Caricatures,Cover Illustration
Claude de Metruis   Composer
John Cummings   Composer
Pete Townshend   Composer
Richard Starkey   Composer
Andrew Kelley   Art Direction,Package Design
Paul McCartney   Composer
Johnny Marks   Composer
Bill Crowley   Executive Producer
Joe Lambert   Mastering
John Lennon   Composer
Jeffrey Hyman   Composer
Aaron Schroeder   Composer
Brian Wilson   Composer
Paul Grosso   Creative Director